Newport & District League

Premier Division X

Saturday 5th April 2025

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.31

Croesyceilliog Athletic 1 Risca Town 6, attendance 30

1’ 0-1

7’ 0-2

8’ 1-2

40’ 1-3

59’ 1-4

65’ 1-5

77’ 1-6

@ The Dyke

Raglan Court

off Cardigan Crescent

Croesyceilliog

NP44 2QR

No Admission or Programme.

With the intention to do a second game at 5 o’clock, this game fitted the bill perfectly. It looked to be a good game too, with second in the league table hosting third. They were both on 44 points coming into this, trailing league leaders Pill Reserves by two points. In fact, Croesyceilliog had been top themselves until losing 0-2 at home to Pill in their last home game.

I’d never done a game in this league before, so wasn’t sure what to expect in either standard of football, or ground, but was pleasantly surprised by how good both were. Google maps just showed an open pitch, but it is fully railed off and has a couple of dugouts too, which although have a roof, are still lacking in any back or sides to them. The only thing that may hinder them in progressing up the pyramid is how narrow the pitch is, being no more than 5 yards from the edge of the 18 yard box to the touchline.

Risca got off to a great start, scoring in the opening ten seconds, following it up with a second goal after seven minutes, heading in at the near post from a corner on the right. A minute later Croesyceilliog pulled it back to 1-2, heading in from a cross that the ‘keeper should really have got to first and they thought they’d levelled the scores five minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside. A corner, that was only half cleared, was volleyed into the top corner to see Risca restore their two goal lead five minutes before halftime and by the time they made it 1-4 just before the hour mark, the points were safe. The goal of the game, a curler into the far corner from the angle of the 18 yard box saw them make it 1-5 with twenty minutes left. Shortly afterwards, Croesyceilliog lost their ‘keeper to injury, being replaced by an outfield player and five minutes later he was beaten by a shot on the turn, following a knock down from a long throw in, to round off a resounding 1-6 win for Risca, who now move up to second in the table.